Thus says the LORD, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One. To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of the rulers; Kings shall see 
and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the LORD who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You. -Isaiah 49:7
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. -Micah 5:2 KJV
Where’s Waldo books captivate millions of people, who keep searching, searching for the funny guy in the red-striped shirt.
We play “Where’s… whoever?” with our children, our grandchildren, and the best part, the fun part, is always the revealing of the hidden, delighted face.
But when the Magi came asking that question, “Where’s the child born King of the Jews?” and the Bible-knowledge experts indicated it would be somewhere in Bethlehem, just down the road, how come they, and mobs of Jerusalem’s people didn’t go running to find Him?
The text says instead that they (“all Jerusalem”), along with King Herod, “were troubled.” And it seems they just stayed put. Nobody wanted to play “Where’s Jesus?” Nobody seems to have wanted to reveal His miraculous little face… How come?
Troubled. They were troubled.
Herod was afraid of a rival. He sought the location of this divine King not to go catch even 
the slightest glimpse of his face, but to wipe it away from earth’s tableau completely.
And the people were afraid of Herod. Fear of man. But is that all?
Jesus came to set people free from sin and self and death — to bring them a new kingdom of love and light and eternal life.
Was that the problem: that they didn’t want a different kingdom? Is that our problem? Familiar is comforting — just its predictability, if nothing else. “Don’t upset the apple cart,” “Don’t rock the boat,” “Maintain the status quo…” All clichés because they represent such common human thought and desire.
If theirs was fear of a tyrant, the inhabitants of Jerusalem could have taken a lesson from those historic heroines, the midwives of the Egyptian captivity who acted so faithfully, and were rewarded for it, because they feared God instead of powerful people.
But I fear that what we fear is not some tyrant, but just having our world turned topsy- turvy. And Jesus does that. Dumps it out, right upside down, and starts it all new, with new birth sometimes as painful as ordinary birth — but even more rewarding.
So, let me make the effort to find Him in this season, to look for and into His face, to keep Him as the focus of my mind and heart. Then, in the coming new year, may I keep asking, “Where’s Jesus?” and keep running “hard after Him,” fearless in the adventure of faith and Life.
To read — Matt 2:1-6,7-18
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Seeking the Christ Child (in the Old Testament)
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I am searching for prophecies and foreshadowings of the Christ child, book by book. I plan to post (nearly) every weekday (leaving myself some margin) a short peek at some hint or promise of the coming baby who would make all the difference. Like the wise men, I’ll be Seeking the Christ Child, but in Old Testament promises and foreshadowings, and sharing what I find. I hope you’ll join me, because if it turns out as rewarding as the past spring’s pre-Easter explorations, this focus could make this one of the richest, most blessed Christmas seasons yet.
Previous posts:
(4) – Wrestling Babies Lead to Christ?
(5) – Hope Hanging by a Slender Thread
(6) Power in Small Things, and Fear of Babies
(7) Heart-felt Reflections on Foreshadowings so far
(9) Two Widows and a Prostitute
(10) Two Poetesses (Their Babies Made them Sing)
(11) Tangled Strands and Broken
(13) Broken Weavings, Strands, and Stumps
Linked to…
Oh, yes. Struggling to seek Him, even though He turns everything upside-down, ruins all our plans, causes so much pain . . . because really He’s turning everything right-side-up, furthering His perfect plan, and forming us into His masterpiece. It’s so hard, but, really, it’s worth it in the end . . . because He’s the only One worth living for.
And well worth it, Mary! So true, that we perceive Him as turning everything upside-down, when in reality, He’s putting it right side up. We just have the hard job of getting re-oriented! God bless you now during this Christmas week and into the new year.
People fear that leap of faith, fear the Almighty, all Powerful God, because “He will change their life” and most people look at the change as a loss!!! They couldn’t be more wrong.
Amen, Bobbi! So true! Thanks for this good comment. I’ve been thinking of you much lately. God’s best blessings to you and yours, despite difficulties. Prayers.
“Not want the kingdom….familiarity is comforting” A Samuel confronting David moment here. To resist change = resisting God’s plan. I too would have been afraid to go to Bethlehem. The people had only experienced tyrant kings and Roman oppression. I would like to think that I would have waited and watched, hopeful for a good King. I would like to think I would have embraced Christ when he walked in Jerusalem but I know that I would not in myself have done than, only when stirred by the Holy Spirit. How often do I quench the Spirit by choosing the comfortable and familiar?
Mm, yes, Laurie. What good thoughts and insights! Much to thank Him for! Especially for that stirring that He has done, and will continue to do, in our spirits. Thank you for sharing. And God bless your Christmas!